Traffic signalling device



May 13, 1958 G. L. MOORE TRAFFIC SIGNALLING DEVICE M0 m m m ma m E w 6 3w 5 Filed March '7, 1956 United States Patent TRAFFIC SIGNALLING DEVICE George L. Moore, Los Angeles, Calif r Application March 7, 1956, Serial No. 570,177 1 Claim. (Cl. 116-63) This invention relates to a traflic signalling device.

It has been the practice, particularly at street crossings near a school, to provide a patrol for assisting children across the streets. Usually some form of poster or signal means is carried to stop oncoming traffic. However, frequently' such signals are not seen or are ignored with the result that traflic accidents occur.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a traificsignalling device which cannot be overlooked or ignored by oncoming trafiic.

it is still a further object of this invention to provide a signalling device which is readily stored when not in actual use and is quickly withdrawn from such storage.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide means for maintaining said signalling device out of storage at any desired position but toprovide means for readily withdrawing same.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device this invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spring retaining post.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a device embodying this invention with the ribbon partially withdrawn therefrom.

A housing is formed from an open ended cylinder 10 having side closing plates 12 and 14 therefor which are secured together by rods 16. This housing has a slot embodying 18 through which a signalling ribbon 20 is drawn. The

ribbon 20 is preferably two to six inches in width and has a suitable indicia thereon such as a red color and may have printed thereon on either or both sides the desired traffic order such as stop," etc. The end of the ribbon is grasped by the'patrolman or teacher or whoever is assisting the school children across an intersection and pulled out of the housing and held across the road. The ribbon is sufficiently large and of appropriate color such as red, that it cannot be overlooked or ignored by oncoming drivers.

The other extremity of the ribbon is fixed upon reel 22 which in turn is supported within the housing on spring retaining post 24. The post is supported at one end in plate 12 and at the opposite end by cap 30 projccting through a suitable hole in plate 14 and secured to plate 14 by bolts 32.

The end of ribbon 20 has an eye 34 through which passes rod 36 which is supported between side plates 38 and 40 of the reel. Thus upon pulling on ribbon 20 the reel rotates clockwise in Figure 1 on post 24, bearings 26 and 28 rotatably supporting the reel on the post.

A coiled spring 42 is provided within the reel 22 having one extremity projecting through a slot 43 formed in the post 24, held stationary by pin 45 of cap 30, and is coiled around the post having its other extremity connected about rod 44 inside of reel 22. The spring 42 urges the reel 22 to rotate counter-clockwise within the housing tending to draw the ribbon back into the housing and wrap same around the reel.

Ratchet means are provided for releasably holding the reel 22 in a position with the ribbon withdrawn from the housing. A ratchet 46 is secured by bolts 48 to plate 12. The ratchet has three indents 50 symmetrically disposed around its periphery. The outer lip 52 at the top of each indent is rounded for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The side plate 40 has pivotally mounted thereon three equally spaced pawls 54 adapted to simultaneously enter indents 50 and thus hold the reel 22 against further rotation. Each pawl has a bore through which a post 56 passes thereby pivotally mounting the pawls on side plate 40 of reel 22 upon which the post is mounted. A cap 58 is secured by pin 69 on the outer extremity of the post 56 preventing disassembly thereof.

A spring 62 is coiled around shaft 64 also mounted upon plate 40. One extremity of the spring is secured around a stud 66 and the other extremity fits into a recess 68in the pawl 54, the spring urging the pawl into indent 50. The indent engaging extremity of the pawls 54 are likewise rounded. Thus, when the ribbon 20 is slowly pulled out of the housing the pawls 54 will fall into indents 50 and hold the reel against rotation under urging of spring 42. If however the ribbon is released when the pawls are not in engagement with the indents, the spring will rewind the ribbon 20 on the reel 22 drawing same back into the housing. During this Winding the rounded extremities of the pawls 54 engage the rounded lip 52 on the ratchet and are carnrned out of indents 50 before having an opportunity to become seated therein. This may be accomplished by making spring 62 relatively weak and spring 42 relatively strong.

Thus in operation the extremity of ribbon or banner 20 is grasped and pulled out of the housing by the operator stretching sarne partially or fully across the road. Oncorning drivers are thereby halted. The ribbon 20 will remain in this position when pawls 54 fall into indents 50. When it is desired to rewind the ribbon or banner 20 on the reel it is pulled a little further to unseat pawls 54 from the indents whereby spring 42 rewinds same on the reel, the pawls 54 not being capable of becoming seated in the indents 50 at the rate of'winding due to the rounded corner on the pawl and rounded lip 52 on the ratchet.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope of this invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the appended claim.

I claim:

A trafiic signalling device comprising: a housing, a

I reel rotatably mounted within said housing, a ribbon having traflic instructing indicia thereon wound on said reel with one end secured to said reel and the other end extending out of said housing, spring means resisting rotation of said reel incident to withdrawal of said ribbon from said housing, a ratchet disc fixed in said housing and having a toothed periphery, a pawl pivoted on said reel and cooperating with said ratchet teeth to prevent said spring rewinding said ribbon on said reel, a weak spring urging said pawl toward said ratchet, the extremities of said ratchet teeth and said pawl being rounded whereby said pawl does not engage in said teeth while ,said reel is rotating in rewinding direction, and said pawl being so mounted that centrifugal force, when said reel is rotating, urges said pawl away from said ratchet,

2,834,314 "'55 a shaft mountedin said housing, said reel being rotatably References Cited in the file of this patent mounted on said shaft, said shaft having a bifurcated end projecting outwardly of-said housing, a cap fixed to UNITED STATES PATENTS said housing, overlying said end and having a portion 1,415,489 Simpson May 9, 1922 engaging within said bifurcated end to hold said shaft 5 ,945,842 Witchger Feb. 6, 1934 against rotation, said spring means comprising a' coiled FOREIGN PATENTS spring around said shaft having an end secured thereto and its other end secured to said reel. 8571135 France V---.-i- P 1940 

